A Troubled Dragon by Toni Newell

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An almighty roar
A frightening sound
Could be heard in the castle
And all around.
The dragon was angry
His head stretching high
Flames soared from his lips
Followed by a deep sigh.
How could he get in?
The portcullis was down
Unable to enter
He adorned a frown.
He had a conundrum 
Should he stay and just wait
Or return to his home
And there contemplate.
Marion, his betrothed
Was on the other side
She had been kidnapped
To prevent becoming his bride.
Nothing could be done
As the situation stood
Locked out of the castle
Didn’t look good.
Perhaps he could plead
To the one on the throne
And try to convince him
He could his sins atone.
Show he was worthy
Of Marion’s hand
And would love and protect
All those on the land.
He could disguise himself
Follow in the next train
Entering the portcullis
And from roaring refrain.
So that’s what he did
He followed inside
Sneaked into the castle 
In search of his bride.
A wailing he heard
Which came from above
He instantly knew
That it came from his love.
He ran up the stairs
Whispered through the door
It is me my love
Together we’ll be forever more.

The sobbing stopped 
Her face appeared
He was so lost in love
He no longer feared.
Arm in arm together 
They searched for the King
Whose blessing they sought
And whose praises they’d sing.
They’d seek his approval
Which they hadn’t before
Thus creating this problem
A necessary chore.
As it turned out
The King was impressed 
He pardoned the dragon
For his regress.
The dragon was happy
He had used his guile
As the King looked on
With a surreptitious smile.

Image from Stocktake

Snow Castle by James Aitchison

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In the mountains,

above the snow,

I found a castle

from long ago.

Forbidding walls

rise to the sky;

gloomy forests

meet the eye.

I wonder whom

I’ll meet inside —

which king will be

my ghostly guide?

Teacher’s note: Wartburg (pronounced Vartburg) Castle sits on 410-metrte precipice above the town of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. Dating from 1067, it is associated with Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, Martin Luther, and a legendary minstrels’ contest.

Poem of the Day

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James Atchison submitted the following poem in response to Poetry Prompt #21

 

Poem of the Day

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Behind the door

by Jenny Erlanger

 

I know it sounds a bit absurd

but you should hear what I have heard

about the things that have occurred

inside that stony tomb.

 

There’s talk of heaps of human bones,

of eerie grunts and squeals and moans,

of blood that oozes from the stones

and ghosts that haunt each room.

 

They say the spiders down the halls

are all the size of bowling balls

and prone to jumping off the walls

and landing in your hair

 

Of course, I don’t know this for sure.

It’s time for someone to explore

what really lies beyond that door.

Please enter… if you dare.

 

  • Submitted in response to Words+Pictures #2 poetry challenge

ENTER

 

Photo: Neil Mulligan